Article Archive

Stylin' 897

Author: 3D

Monday, 25 February 2008

Milan fashion week wrapped up on Saturday, leaving only the Parisian leg (which started on Sunday) of the major international fashion racket left to go. The big controversy of the week came from the silhouettes of models, not clothing. Despite ostensibly banning models with BMIs under 18, Milan’s cat-walkers appeared as thin as ever, leading many from the fashion press to cry foul. It had been suggested that London’s strategy for coping with the skinny model “epidemic” (starting a model’s union, banning girls under 16) was a far more sensible approach than a blanket BMI-based ban - which, while was sensationalised in the media last year, clearly never translated properly onto the runway. Slenderness aside, labels like Prada, Gucci, Armani, Burberry Porsum, Pucci and Alessandro Del Acqua were all in fine form, with dressing for warmth (in big coats and heavy tights) coming out as a major trend.

In a bizarre twist on Oscar’s fashion, Little Lily, an American company (where else-), takes key looks from the red carpet and turns them into more fiscally accessible pieces of formal wear. This practice is not uncommon, and would hardly be of note, except that Little Lily make formal gowns for small dogs. The canine clothing company has a range of outfits available, and will update their dresses only a few days after the Academy Awards ceremony. The label even has a range of doggie duds designed by Paris Hilton. Find out more at: littlelily.com

Hip hop duo Outkast’s Andre Benjamin (Andre 3000) is stepping into the fashion world with his new label, Benjamin Bixley. The clothes will be a mixture of dapper gentleman, seventies stud and hip hop maverick and are inspired by “your uncle or your granddad” as he has a “closet full of experiences and clothes, and he's been around the world." The clothes will be available in New York in a few months time, with no word yet on whether they’ll make it Down Under. But if Benjamin Bixley seems like your kind of man, we suggest you keep your ear out.

The Australian Fashion Council, Council of Textile and Fashion Industries of Australia and Intellectual Property Australia have joined forces to create a new initiative titled Fashion Rules. Fashion Rules will serve as a guide to intellectual property and copyright for the Australian fashion industry. This means that, for the first time, Australian fashion designers will know what features of their brand (hint: it’s not just the label) they can claim as their intellectual property. This is good news for designers and label purists and bad news for those who like low-end knock offs. For more info visit: ipfashionrules.gov.au